Once again college rules are completely different than any other rule set and their ruling on this is quite interesting and contradicts the written rule. The written rule says dead ball appeals can be made, but, on a ball that goes out of play they cannot be made until a new ball is put into the game. No definition of what being put into the game means. Their rule also says on a dead ball, the runner must be given the opportunity to correct their base running error before a dead ball appeal can be made, again no definition of exactly what constitutes an opportunity when the missed base is home plate. Now, the approved ruling they have issued is on a ball that goes out of play, a dead ball appeal cannot be made until a new ball is put into the game AND made live. Also, a runner that misses home plate on a home run has all the way up until they go into the dugout to return and touch the plate and no appeal may be made until they enter the dugout. So, while NCAA says they allow dead ball appeals, on a ball that goes out of play there is no possible way to make a dead ball appeal for any infraction until the ball is made live again.
Every other rule set allows dead ball appeals with or without the ball and there is no requirement for a ball to be put back into the game or make it live again. All other rule sets also state a runner must be given the opportunity to correct their base running errors prior to the umpire accepting a dead ball appeal again with no definition of what that opportunity exactly is on missing the plate on a home run. In umpire group discussions it is generally accepted to be umpire judgement as to how long the runner is given to correct that error. If the runner misses the plate and is showing no signs of returning to touch on their way to the dugout the runner has made no intention of returning and the dead ball appeal can be accepted by the umpire.
With the NCAA ruling the defense can do nothing but stand around and wait until the runner enters the dugout, then have the umpire put the ball back into play, call time and then appeal the runner for missing the plate. In the case of a walk off home run and a missed plate, the defensive players would have to hold position as well as the umpire remain on the field and wait for the offensive team to do their celebrations, line dance, macarena and whatever else they are doing to see if the runner ever returns to touch or enters the dugout. Only then could they make an appeal of the missed plate, and with the defense and umpires all standing around it will surely tip the offense at some point the runner needs to go back and touch the plate.
